Entry to Practice Competencies

There are various ways countries use to assure a candidate for registration is competent to practice. In this section, you will find information on these various ways including the defined competencies and tools used in developing a competency examination, which is only one way of assuring competency.

Canada

In Canada, Physiotherapy is regulated by the individual provinces and territories.

The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators develops and administers a national physiotherapy competency examination (PCE) on behalf of provincial and territorial physiotherapy regulators. Anyone seeking to practice physiotherapy in Canada must successfully complete the PCE.

The United States utilizes an examination to determine entry level competence prior to registration or licensure. This area provides information and resources on the development of this entry-level competence examination.

One way to assure competence to practice is to require physiotherapy candidates to pass a reliable, valid test of the knowledge and skills required for safe and competent entry-level physiotherapy. Passing this test becomes a requirement for registration, certification or license to practice physiotherapy in that country.

These tests are developed through a process that begins with a formal, systematic process referred to as an "practice analysis." This process begins with the identification of work requirements for entry-level practitioners and ends with the development of a formal set of test specifications that delineates the knowledge and skills related to safe and competent entry-level practice.